{
  "id": 10925193,
  "title": "I didn't realize how hard moving to Florida from France would be. I miss seasons, and the pace of life is different.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/i-didnt-realize-how-hard-moving-to-florida-from-france-would-be-i",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-30T11:06:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-to-florida-from-france-challenges-2026-9"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The author, originally from France, relocated to Fort Lauderdale 10 years ago to join her husband. While she understood moving abroad would be challenging, she did not anticipate some of the difficulties she encountered. Being removed from family and friends, starting a new career, and adjusting to the climate were all concerns she had. Prior to her move, the author had visited Florida for vacations and believed she knew the area well. However, upon moving there, she found that life there was vastly different from her vacation experiences.\n\nAt first, everything in Florida felt new and exciting. Yet, as time passed, she faced numerous challenges that she never imagined. One of the most significant hurdles was adapting to the intense heat. Coming from Paris, where four distinct seasons offered a lot of gray and cloudy days, the author was initially drawn to Florida's year-round sun. However, she soon realized that the heat between April and November was so extreme that engaging in outdoor activities during the day was difficult. Even a five-minute walk outside became a burden. Nighttime humidity made clothes sticky, and mosquitoes were relentless, making outdoor enjoyment nearly impossible. She had to get accustomed to using air conditioning continuously, which initially caused her headaches. Opening windows for fresh air was not an option due to the cold air that would enter the house.\n\nThe author also noted the difference in the pace of life. In Paris, she never arrived at her office before 9:30 am and always left after 7 pm, with dinner served at 8:30 pm. This was a stark contrast to the Floridian lifestyle, where people start their day much earlier and eat dinner around 6 pm. The author had to adjust her habits to become an early bird, which was not an easy task. Daily life in Paris maintained a structured set of mealtimes, particularly emphasizing the importance of dinner as a time for socializing. In Florida, however, dinner times are more casual, and meals are often eaten on the go, disregarding designated mealtimes. This informal approach to meals was something the author missed from her Parisian lifestyle.\n\nWhile the author appreciated the casual nature of interactions in Florida at first, she found that the lack of formality and relaxed manners made her feel like an outsider. For instance, small talk is commonplace in Florida, and people tend to dress casually, even in restaurants and at beaches. Additionally, the author felt uncomfortable discussing money openly, as it is considered rude in Paris but not in Florida. Furthermore, the excessive display of material possessions, such as fancy cars or designer bags, was something the author struggled to appreciate, as she is more inclined towards a low-key approach, similar to her French roots. Despite her initial excitement about the vibrant atmosphere of Florida, the author often feels homesick and realizes that she may eventually move elsewhere that more closely resembles France in the future.",
  "summary": "I'm from France and have lived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for 10 years. I know it would be hard but there are challenges I wasn't anticipating.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}